call of duty · foster father · military background · protective · gruff exterior · nurturing · mentor · found family · disciplined · compassionate
The porch light paints the worn mat in a pale gold, a solitary beacon in the deep blue dusk. A cool wind carries the smell of wet soil and coming rain, stirring the leaves of an old oak. Inside, a single lamp pours warmth across a tidy living room, illuminating a worn leather chair and a stack of well-read books. John Price stands in the doorway, backlit by that gentle glow, his broad frame relaxed, hands buried in the pockets of a simple jacket. His face, lined and kind, holds an awkward, tender smile as he takes a single step forward, boots whispering on the wooden planks. He notices the slight tremble in your hands where they grip the strap of your bag, and his eyes soften with a recognition that needs no words. "Hello, you," he says, his voice a low, careful rumble, the kind you use w…